Removably mounting extractor shafts



June 13, 1944.

Filed April 19, 1941 Lih C) FIG.3

FIG.4-

- INVENTOR WILLIAM JO H N W.

s OCKRANT K|NNEY..JR.

Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE REMOVABLY MOUNT SHAFTS ING EXTRACTOR William Ockrant and John W. Kinney, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio; said Kinney assignor to said Ockrant 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the method of and means for rotatably mounting the individual shafts of a thread extracting .machine in which the loose threads from fibrous materials, such as cotton sweeps, and the like, are separated from the rest of the material.

An object of the present invention is to provide simple, yet effective means for removably mounting the extractor shafts of thread extracting machines.

A further object .of the invention is to provide a device wherein only the active portion of an extractor shaft, around which the extracted threads become entwined, is removably mounted between rotatably disposed stub shafts which are secured to and carried by the side walls of the device.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental vertical sectional'view taken laterally through the housing of a thread extractor.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, of the right and left ends of the removable thread extractor shaft of Fig. 1 operatively secured to a pair of fixed, rotatably mounted stub shafts.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,.but turned 90 thereto in a counterclockwise direction.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but disclosing a modified form of extractor shaft and stub shaft mounting.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

It is common practice in the art of extracting loose threads from masses of fibrous materials, such as cotton sweeps and the like, to subject such materials to successive action of a plurality of revolving shafts, each of which includes a plurality of radially projecting pins. The longer of the loose threads are extracted from the mass of fibrous material by reason of being entwined or wrapped around the revolving shafts, whereas the shorter threads are extracted by reason of being wrapped around the projecting pins. Quite obviously the efficiency, or ability of an extractor to extract loose threads from a mass of fibrous material is seriously impaired as the quantity of extracted threads builds up or accumulates on the various extractor shafts and pins.

Heretofore the threads entwined or wrapped about the extractor shafts and ins were removed by stopping the machine, and then cutting the threads from the shafts and pins. However, since considerable time is required to out such threads from the shafts, the entire machine was rendered useless until the thread cutting operation had been completed. The time required to cut the threads from the average extractor usually approximated two hours, wherefore it is apparent that in any working day the machine would be idle for two hour intervals while the threads were being removed.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a thread extracting device, the individual thread extractor shafts of which are individually removable, and interchangeable with other similar shafts. Such construction makes it not only possible, but commercially feasible to bodily remove the various thread ladened extractor shafts and replace them with other similar shafts from which the threads have been previously out. By reason of the unique construction of the extractor shafts, as hereinafter more fully disclosed, it is but a simple matter to remove and replace the beater shafts of an extractor, in a very short period of time, such as ten minutes. By reason of the time thus saved, it is possible to practically double the output of such device.

At the outset it should be understood that the present invention is not concerned with, nor directed to any particular type of thread extractor device, but is directed to the particular means disclosed in the drawing for removably mounting thread extractor shafts in any suit-- able machine which is adapted to extract the loose threads from fibrous substances, such as cotton sweeps, and the like. If desired each thread extractor shaft may be of the general nature disclosed in the copending patent application of William Ockrant, filed December 30, 1940, Serial No. 372,306.

As disclosed in Fig. l, the numeral 13 represents generally a thread extractor shaft which extends laterally between spaced side walls or support members Ii and E2 of a suitable extractor chamber. A plurality of agitator arms or pins i3 project radially from shaft in. These pins are adapted to impart a rotary motion to the fibrous material from which-the loose threads are to be extracted whereby the loose threads will be wrapped or entwined around shaft Ill, and pins l3. In order to support the fibrous material from which the loose threads are being extracted, a pan, denoted generally by the numeral l4, may be secured below and spaced from the arcuate path described by the ends of the pins I3, as is the common practice. A rotary motion may be imparted to shaft III by any suitable means, such as a chain driven sprocket l5 secured to the rear end of the shaft, as shown.

As clearly disclosed in Fig. 1 it will be observed that the present method of removably mounting thread extractor shaft l0 may be employed in a device similar to that disclosed in the Ockrant co-pending patent application, wherein fibrous materials are simultaneously opened, blended and cleaned as the threads are removed, and wherein the rate of lineal travel of material through the device is controlled by means of adjustable depending baflle plates 24 pivotally suspended from their upper longitudinal edges for movement on opposite sides of a perpendicular disposed midway between adjacent beater shafts.

With reference to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive it will be observed that only the active portion of beater shaft I0 around which the extracted threads are wrapped is removable from the device, thereby eliminating the need for disconnecting and then reconnecting the power drive of pulley |5 incident to the removal and replacement of shafts l0. As disclosed in Fig. 2 beater shaft I0 is shorter than the lateral distance between side walls H and I2. Opposite ends of the shaft are adapted to be securely, though releasably mounted to a pair of rotatably mounted stub shafts and 3| respectively. The stub shafts may be rotatably mounted in bearings 32 and 33 fixedly secured to and carried by side walls H and I2. In-order to preclude movement of stub shafts 30 and 3| along their longitudinal axis they may be provided with a thrust collar 34 mounted between all bear s 35 as illustrated, whereby each stub shaft will be freely rotatable about a common longitudinal axis. As disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3, the opposite ends of shaft l0 may be provided with a projecting tongue 36 which is adapted to be received within a complementary groove 3'! provided in the inner ends of stub shafts 30 and 3|. In the preferred embodiment of the invention tongue 36 is of a lesser width than the diameter of the stub shafts for providing a supporting web 38 below the bottom edge 39 of tongue 36, as best disclosed in Fig. 3. Such construction provides means for supporting shaft I0 relative to the stub shafts 30 and 3| while pins 40 are being inserted into, or withdrawn from a diametric hole 4| disposed through the aligned and engagin portions of shaft l0 and the stub shafts 30 and 3|. Inasmuch as pin 40 does not transmit torque between shaft l0 and the stub shafts, but merely functions to prevent the unintentional, or accidental disengagement of tongue 33 from groove 31, this pin may be fairly light and releasably securable in place by any suitable means, such as by way of a friction fit, or the like.

In the modification disclosed in Figs, 4 and 5 it will beobserved that stub shaft 30 is provided with a taper to provide a conic socket which is adapted to be engaged by a tapered end or conic tongue 5| of thread extractor shaft l0. Stub shaft 30 may be suitably mounted as disclosed in Fig. 2. The other end of shaft It! may be provided with a tapered stepped offset 52 which is adapted to engage a complementary tapered stepped offset 53 provided in the free end of stub shaft 3|. Shaft; |0 may be operatively secured to stub shafts 30 and 3| by means of a retainer pin 54 which extends axially through stub shaft 3| and into the end of shaft ID, as shown by the broken lines. The removal of shaft I0 may be effected by withdrawin retainer pin 54 outwardly until the right end of shaft ll! may be lifted upwardly for disengaging the abutting edges of the complementary tapered stepped offsets 52 and 53. By lifting upwardly on the thus free right end of shaft III the engagement between the complementary conic, or tapered portions of the left end of said shaft and the inner end of stub shaft 30 may be effected, whereby shaft l0 may be removed from the device by one operator standing at side wall l2. Conversely, when another shaft I0 is to be mounted between stub shafts 30 and 3|, it is first necessary to introduce tapered end 5| of shaft I0 into the tapered recess 50 of stub shaft 3|], after which the tapered stepped offset 52 may be brought into engagement with the corresponding offset 53 of stub shaft 3|. It should be noted that by reason of the taperprovided on the right end of shaft ID the tapered left end 50 will snugly engage the complementary taper 5| of stub shaft 30 as the right end of shaft I0 is brought into axial alignment with stubshaft 3|. After being so aligned, retainer pin 54 may be inserted for positively locking shaft ID to stub shaft 3|. If desired the outer end 6|] of retainer pin 54 may be provided with a female socket 6| engageable by a suitable wrench for causing said pin to make threaded engagement with a tapped hole, (not shown) provided in the hub of sprocket I5. From the foregoing it is apparent that it is but a simple matter to bodily remove one or any number of thread extractor shafts from the device whenever such shafts become entwined with a large quantity ofextracted threads. By immediately replacing the removed shaft with a second clean shaft, the machine may be immediately thereafter placed in operation. The threads entwined about the removed shaft may then be out off at the convenience of a machine operator, while the machine is operating on the replaced shaft. In this manner the machine is rendered inoperative only during those periods of time within whicha thread ladened shaft is being removed and a clean shaft is being replaced. This is in sharp contrast to the method heretofore followed wherein the entire machine was rendered inoperative while the threads were cut from the shafts While mounted in the machine.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in the structural details of the device may be made, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination which comprises a pair of spaced side walls, a pair of rotatable stub shafts carried by and secured one to each side wall, the stub hafts comprising a pair fixed against axial displacement and being rotatable about a common axis, a removable shaft adapted to be supported by and between a pair of stub shafts, and means for releasably interlocking the opposite ends of said shaft to each of said stub'shafts whereby said shaft is rotatable with and about the axis of rotation of said stub shafts.

v 2. In a device of the class described, the combination which comprises a .pair of spaced support members, a pair of rotatable. stub shafts carried by and secured one to each support member for rotation about a common axis and against axial displacement, a shaft adapted to be removably supported by and between said stub shafts, the adjacent ends of said shaft and stub shafts provided with interlocking means adapted to transmit a driving torque from one of said stub shafts through said removable shaft to the other stub shaft, means for precluding accidental or unintentional disengagement of said interlocking means, and means for driving one of said stub shafts.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination which comprises a pair of spaced support members, a pair of rotatable stub shafts carried by and secured one to each support member for rotation about a common axis, a shaft adapted to be removably supported by and between said stub shafts, one end of said removable shaft and the inner end of a stub shaft provided with interfitting complementar conics, the other end of said removable shaft and the inner end of the other stub shaft being provided with interfitting complementary tapered-stepped portions adapted to transmit torque from the stub shaft to said removable shaft and to main tain an interfitting relationship between the other end of said removable shaft and the other stub shaft, means for releasably locking the complementary, interfitting tapered-stepped portions of said shafts together, and means for imparting a rotary motion to the torque transmiting stub shaft.

4. In combination with a thread extractor device which includes a housing having a pair of laterally spaced walls, of a thread extractor shaft extending between said walls, said shaft comprising a central removable portion and a pair of rotatable stub shafts carried by and secured against axial displacement one to each wall, means for releasably securing the opposite ends of said central removable portion to said stub shafts for rotation with said stub shafts, and drive means on one of said stub shafts for imparting a rotary motion to said thread extractor shaft.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of laterally spaced support members, of a pair of bearings carried by and secured in spaced axial alignment one to each support member, a pair of stub shafts rotatable one in each of said bearings and confined thereby against axial displacement, the adjacent ends of said stub shafts projecting outwardly from their respective bearings, a closed bottomed U- shaped slot provided in the adjacent ends of said stub shafts, a beater shaft removably supported by and between said stub shafts, the opposite ends of said beater shaft terminating in U- shaped tongue members which are complements of the U-shaped slots of said stub shafts, said tongue members releasably interlocking the slots of said stub shafts, and releasable means engaging each complementary tongue and slot for precluding accidental or unintentional disengagement of said interlocking parts.

-6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of laterally spaced support members, of a pair of bearings carried by and secured in spaced axial alignment one to each support member, a pair of stub shafts rotatable one in each of said bearings and confined thereby against axial displacement, the adjacent ends of said stub shafts projecting outwardly from their respective bearings, a closed bottomed U- shaped slot provided in the adjacent ends of said stub shafts, a beater shaft removably supported by and between said stub shafts, the opposite ends of said heater shaft terminating in U- shaped tongue members which are complements of the U-shaped slots of said stub shafts, said tongue members releasably interlocking the slots of said stub shafts, each pair of interlocking tongues and slots having a common passageway extending therethrough, and a pin removably receivable within said passageway for precluding accidental or unintentional disengagement of a tongue from its cooperative slot.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of lateral spaced support members, a pair of bearings carried by and secured in spaced axial alignment one to each support member, a pair of stub shafts rotatable one in each of said bearings and confined therer by against axial displacement, the adjacent ends of said stub shafts projecting outwardly from their respective bearings, a beater shaft removably supported by and between said stub shafts, complementary conical tongue and socket members provided on the adjacent end of one stub shaft and on one end of said beater shaft, complementary interfitting stepped portions provided on the end of the other stub shaft and the other end of said beater shaft, said last mentioned stub shaft provided with a passageway extending axially therethrough, that end of said beater shaft which is complementary to said last mentioned stub shaft having a passageway disposed axially thereof, the passageways of said stub shaft and beater shaft adapted to be disposed in axial alignment when the opposite ends of said heater shaft are engaged with their respective stub shafts, and a member insertable into said aligned passageways for releasably locking said beater shaft to and between said stub shafts and for precluding accidental or unintentional disengagement of said interlocking parts.

WILLIAM OCKRANT.

JOHN W. KINNEY, JR. 

